Why can contour lines never cross eachother?

Question

i need help!!!!!!

Answer 1

because they display values how can one spot on a map be 40 and 50 feet at once?

Answer 2

Because they are CONstantly TOURing

Answer 3

Because they each represent a different height at a certain interval such as 100 meters in elevation.

Answer 4

Contour lines normally symbolize height, so there can never be two heights for one point, let alone have a lower height be higher than a higher height.

Answer 5

Aren't contour lines suppose to show the depth of an object/land mass in 2-D form? Or elevation for land at least?

If they crossed, then it would be like an intersecting plane and 2-D is on one plane only.

Answer 6

they would not be called contour lines if they werent

Answer 7

Your question is flawed.

Contour lines join points of equal elevations.   By definition, contour lines would merge at a vertical cliff.  Keep that definition going, and they would cross at an overhanging cliff at the point where the cliff is vertical. The number of crossed lines and the amount that the lines cross would depend on the contour interval and the amount of overhang.

Cartographers rarely show this situation with crossed contour lines on real maps because it is confusing and extremely rare. Normally they prefer to leave a blank where the crossed lines should go to indicate very steep topography.